First thing I said when I woke up after being #paralysed in a car crash was that one day I would ski at the #paralympics!?
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I wanted to learn to ski again as soon as I possibly could. .
I never could have guessed that life would take me down a different path though, and instead of competing at the games..I’m going to be presenting! .
But no matter how exciting that adventure will be..NOTHING in the WHOLE world feels better than this...
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Next stop...#winterparalympics2018 😆❄️
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.#skiing #monoski #paralympics #tvpresenting #paraplegic #winterpark #disabilitysport #wheelchairlife #WheelchairGirl #dreams #colorado #inspired #paralympics #2018winterolympics #channel4 #presenting #learningtomonoski
🙌🏻🙌🏻Thank you again to @janesowerby (the pro in the video!) for teaching me so far. I have a long way to go but couldn’t do it with out ya! Contact @access_adventures if you want to know ANYTHING about #adaptive sport🙌🏻🙌🏻

Learning to #monoski is one of the most challenging sports for a paraplegic, so having a teacher who knows what they are doing is key! Jane (@janesowerby) is a #Paralympian who also had a spinal injury - she is hands down one of the most talented and graceful skiers I’ve ever seen! People with different disabilities can use a monoski (amputees, people with CP, spina bifida and more) but the way paralysis affects how we are able to move the #monoski is unique. Depending on your level of injury for example, your balance or ability to use your hips might be affected. So having lessons from such an experienced and knowledgable skier makes all the difference! If ANY one is interested in knowing more about adaptive sports or how Jane can help you, please get in touch - promise you, it/she will change your life! Follow @access_adventures for more info. .
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#AccessAdventure #NSCD #sitskiing #parasport #disabilitysport #monoski #wheelchairlife #wheelchair #WheelchairGirl #skiing #adaptivesport #inspiration #motivation #sport #adventure @access_adventures @janesowerby @sitski

When the only way to stop is to go straight into a tree 🌲❄️☃️ @janesowerby

Out in Winter Park in Colorado with the #NSCD #BridgeProgram learning to monoski. I can’t begin to explain how hard I find skiing, trying to balance on one ski when I’m paralysed from the chest down and have no core stability makes things challenging to say the least! But when it’s good, it’s the best feeling in the world! A compilation of my best falls so far is on its way!! Thanks to the amazing for teaching me. If ANYONE wants to know more about how you to can learn to ski please get in touch with the or drop me a message and I’ll see if I can help. I’ve a long way to go but practice makes perfect...🤞🏻!
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#winterpark #colorado #monoski #tessier #adventure #paraplegic #disabilty #Disabled #disabilitysport #parasport #sitskiing #NSCD #AccessAdventure

Out in Winter Park in Colorado with the #NSCD #BridgeProgram learning to monoski. I can’t begin to explain how hard I find skiing, trying to balance on one ski when I’m paralysed from the chest down and have no core stability makes things challenging to say the least! But when it’s good, it’s the best feeling in the world! A compilation of my best falls so far is on its way!! Thanks to the amazing @janesowerby for teaching me. If ANYONE wants to know more about how you to can learn to ski please get in touch with the @NSCD or drop me a message and I’ll see if I can help. I’ve a long way to go but practice makes perfect...🤞🏻!
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#sitskiing #NSCD #winterpark #colorado #monoski #paraplegic #disability #disabilitysport #parasport #skiing #notasuperhuman! #tessier 📷 #olympuspen @olympus_pengeneration

Tomorrow I’m heading out to Colorado to go skiing in Winter Park, Denver. I’m re learning and it’s not easy but it is the BEST feeling in the world! If you want to try and adaptive sports you have to check out @accessadventures, contact @sitski or visit their website. They have soooo many different sports and activities on offer! Time to have an adventure! 😎
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#accessadventures #adventure #parasport #adaptivesport #wheelchairlife #sitskiing #winterpark #NSCD #sport #disability

Working on a passion project just now that I hope will #empower #disabled people. Lucky to have so many brilliant people around to help make it happen. Love it when a plan comes together. #TimesUp for disability discrimination as well..😉
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.#passionproject #idea #work #disability #create #empower #cheeky #secret #comingsoon

Best day with these two boys yesterday at @geotribetattoo in Newcastle. Got tattooed by the SUPER talented @scottttaylor (left) SO lucky to have such a talented artist design this tattoo for me as it’s a very special one. (This isn’t the finished design) THANK you’s to @danielpatrickvaughan and @jojolizard Check out Scott’s work at @scottttaylor #Tattoo #Frida #Paralysed #Cantfeelit! #design #art #artist #scotttaylor #geotribe #newcastle

Proud Ambassador for @toyotamobilityfoundation. Check them out and find out how you can keep up to date or get involved! Visit their website

This week, I’ve being talking at the Edinburgh International TV festival, urging broadcasters and producers to get more disabled people on our TV screens and behind the scenes.

Next month, I’ll be co-hosting the Paralympics alongside RJ Mitte, Alex Brooker and a team of talented presenters the majority of who are disabled.

These amazing games are an opportune time to showcase the extraordinary talents of disabled athletes and encourage discussion on what it means to be disabled in the UK and the world today.

I feel super lucky to be co-hosting the games and am really excited by the fact there will be more disabled people on our TV screens than ever before, but this shouldn’t be something that just happens every 4 years.

It feels like an important moment, and one that we should feel proud of. But there’s absolutely no reason why we can’t have more disabled people broadcasting to the nation on a daily basis - at present it’s only 2.5%.

I would love to switch on my TV and see a disabled person talking about something they are genuinely interested in or acting out a part that doesn’t just focus on their impairment. It would make disability so much more familiar. And would make disabled people feel what they should - that we are just a normal part of modern Britain.

And it’s not just me, three in five (61%) disabled people believe seeing more disabled people on TV increases awareness of disability among members of the public, according to new research by the disability charity Scope.

We already know half of the British public don’t personally know anyone disabled and two-thirds of people admit to feeling awkward about disability.

That’s why the representation of disabled people on TV is hugely important and seeing disabled characters and presenters on our favourite shows could really help improve attitudes towards disability.

Fortunately for me, being disabled has never held me back and it’s certainly not been a barrier to my career. I’m patron of the disability charity Scope and I’ve just landed my dream job co-presenting the Paralympics in Rio but it’s not every day an opportunity like this lands in your lap. It’s a very tough, competitive industry but there are even more challenges for disabled people trying to break into the business.

So much more still needs to be done in terms of writing, casting and programme making to address the lack of disabled talent onscreen and in the media.

New research by Scope also reveals a staggering eight in ten (81%) disabled people do not feel they are well-represented on TV and in the media. However, the majority (77%) said that the coverage of the Paralympic Games had a positive impact on attitudes to disability over the past four years.

Whilst it’s true that the London 2012 Paralympics was a ground-breaking event, providing a catalyst to bring awareness to the general public and definitely enhance public perceptions, it seems there’s still a lot more work to do with making disability seem, well...just normal.